What You Need to Know About Semi Truck Blind Spots
Sharing the road with 18-wheelers is part of everyday life in Denver, especially along I-25, I-70, and the C-470 beltway. Because of their size and height, semis have large “No-Zones”—areas where the driver can’t see you, even with properly adjusted mirrors.
Understanding where those blind spots are and how they cause crashes can help you drive defensively and protect your rights to a personal injury claim if you’re involved in a collision.
Where Are a Semi-Truck’s Blind Spots?
Semi trucks have blind spots on all four sides. These zones are much larger than those on passenger cars and can easily hide an entire sedan or SUV.
Here’s what drivers around Denver should expect in typical highway and city traffic:
- Front: a slice of road directly in front of the cab, where the hood and cab height block visibility.
- Right side: the largest No-Zone, often spanning several lanes from the passenger side mirror back toward the trailer’s end.
- Left side: a smaller but still significant zone along the driver’s side, especially near the trailer’s rear.
- Rear: a deep area behind the trailer where the driver has no direct rearview.
These blind spots expand when the truck is turning, backing, merging, or cresting hills—common scenarios along elevated ramps and construction zones on the Front Range. If you can’t see the trucker’s mirrors, assume the trucker can’t see you.
Why Blind Spots Are a Problem in Denver
Denver’s traffic patterns and geography make blind-spot risks more pronounced. Steep ramps, winter weather, and frequent lane shifts in work zones reduce visibility and increase stopping distances. Mountain traffic feeding into the metro area also means more heavy vehicles merging and exiting at speed differences that can surprise nearby motorists.
Blind spots can cause more problems in Denver because:
- Weather and altitude: Severe winter weather, blowing snow, glare, and altitude-related fatigue can degrade reaction times and visibility.
- Construction corridors: Lane shifts and narrow shoulders on I-25 and I-70 limit the space drivers need to escape a truck’s No-Zone.
- Tourist and freight mix: Long-haul rigs, delivery trucks, and unfamiliar drivers converge near downtown, DIA, and ski-weekend routes.
When you combine large No-Zones with congested, fast-changing lanes, blind-spot crashes become more likely. Planning ahead and giving trucks extra space is one of the best defenses.
How to Avoid a Truck’s Blind Spots
A few simple habits dramatically cut the odds of a blind-spot crash.
Use the tips below during your daily commute and on weekend trips through the metro area:
- Pass quickly on the left when it’s safe—don’t linger beside the trailer.
- Leave extra following distance so the driver can see you in the mirrors, and you have room to brake.
- Signal early and make deliberate moves so the trucker has time to react.
- Avoid cutting in after a pass; you can vanish into the front No-Zone and risk a rear-end collision.
- Give wide turns a wide berth, especially when a semi is swinging right across multiple lanes.
Even cautious drivers can be caught in a No-Zone when traffic suddenly slows, or a truck changes lanes without warning. If you find yourself boxed in, reduce speed to reappear in the driver’s mirrors or safely accelerate past the blind spot.
Common Blind-Spot Crash Scenarios
Blind-spot collisions often follow predictable patterns in city and highway driving. Recognizing them can help you anticipate and avoid danger.
Common scenarios include:
- Right-side lane changes: A semi drifts or merges right, sideswiping a vehicle hidden along the trailer.
- Wide right turns: The trailer tracks over a curb or into an adjacent lane, striking a car beside the truck.
- Cut-ins and sudden braking: A smaller car darts in front of a truck, then brakes hard and disappears in the front No-Zone.
- Rear No-Zone impacts: Stop-and-go traffic compresses, and a vehicle following too closely is struck or under-rides the trailer.
When these situations happen at highway speeds or on slick pavement, injuries can be severe. If a crash occurs, focus on safety first and then gather information to preserve your claim.
When Truck Drivers and Companies May Be Negligent
Truckers must operate with heightened care because their vehicles pose greater risks. Negligence can stem from individual mistakes or company practices that put unsafe trucks on the road.
These can include:
- Improper mirror adjustment or failure to check mirrors before turning, merging, or backing.
- Aggressive or distracted driving, including phone use, fatigue, or tailgating.
- Poor training or scheduling pressures from trucking companies that encourage risky lane changes or speeding.
- Equipment issues like defective mirrors, inadequate lighting, or trailer skirts that limit visibility.
Establishing negligence often requires fast action to secure evidence. In Colorado, an experienced attorney can send preservation letters to keep crucial records from being lost.
Contact the Denver Truck Accident Lawyers at Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today
If you were hurt in a blind-spot crash with a semi in the Denver area, you may be entitled to compensation. Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers has decades of combined experience and has recovered tens of millions for accident victims. We can investigate quickly, preserve critical evidence, and pursue the full value of your claim.
For more information, contact an experienced Denver truck accident attorney to schedule a free consultation today.
We are located in Denver, CO, proudly serving all of Denver County.
Zaner Law Personal Injury Lawyers
1610 Wynkoop Street, Suite 120
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 613 9706
